Adventure Travel For Single Seniors – Preserving the Heritage of an Imperial City – Hue

Adventure Travel For Single
Seniors – Hue, the imperial capital of Vietnam until 1945, when the last
emperor, Bao Dai abdicated, is a city steeped in traditionalism, culture and
art. Hue and its surroundings feature impressive monuments, ornate temples and
pagodas and foremost, the imperial palace.

Renowned for its heritage,
Hue’s residents are known throughout Vietnam for upholding local customs,
traditional dress and the local cuisine, undoubtedly some of the best in
Vietnam, as special delicacies were created here for emperors. Divided by the
Perfume River, with the imperial city to the north and the newer center to the
south, Hue remains relatively small. Getting around is easy by bike, cyclo or
motorbike, though motorized vehicles are forbidden inside the imperial city.

The imperial city, built in
the 19th century by the Nguyen Dynasty emperor Gia Long and commonly known as
the “Citadel” is a remarkable place. Built in 3 circles of ramparts,
the Citadel encompasses 3 “courts, covering a total area of 6 km, with
open courtyards, beautiful gardens and private apartments. A 10 km. moat and
thick stone walls created the citadel’s outer perimeter. The second circle
enclosed the imperial city, the country’s administrative center, which was
built along the same lines as Beijing’s Forbidden City. At the heart of the
imperial city, a smaller moat and thick walls bounded the third circle of the
Forbidden Purple City. A sole entry gate led to the Forbidden City where
various palaces and the emperor’s private apartments lay, and where only
members of the royal family were allowed.

Near the citadel, royal tombs
dot the banks along the Perfume River and include the burial places of Nguyen
Dynasty rulers Minh Mang, Khai Dinh and Tu Doc. Built in traditional Vietnamese
fashion designed to comply with a certain directional orientation, straight
lines and supernatural forces, these tombs are walled compounds each containing
temples, palaces and lakes. A boat ride up the Perfume River is a
“must-do” not only to view some of these spectacular sights, but also
to enjoy the sculptured beauty surrounding Hue. Made all the more magical for
its sites, the countryside around Hue is stunning.

Among its architectural wonders,
a multitude of Pagodas dot Hue’s landscape, among them the Tu Dam Pagoda, the
Tu Hieu Pagoda and the Dieu Du Pagoda, each with its own unique history and
architectural features. The symbol of Hue and its best-known pagoda is the
Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven story structure started originally at the beginning of
the 19th century and built upon thereon by subsequent rulers.

Steeped in the culture and
traditions of Vietnam, imperial Hue offers not only a glimpse into Vietnam’s
history and heritage, but a step into the adventure and romance of travel
through its awesome surroundings.